Jigsaw puzzle organized by colors and numbers

ABSTRACT

A jigsaw puzzle includes various organizational or coordinating methods or schemes located on the back of the jigsaw puzzle that facilitates the sorting of the individual puzzle pieces into grids, sections or bands for easy assemblage so that areas or sections of the puzzle can be first assembled before the entire puzzle is assembled. The organizational or coordinating methods include having numbers, letters or a combination of both placed on the rear surface of each individual puzzle piece, dividing the jigsaw puzzle into grids or sections wherein the rear surfaces of the puzzle pieces of each section are uniquely numbered or colored, or separating the jigsaw puzzle into bands with the puzzle pieces of each band being uniquely colored or marked.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to jigsaw puzzles, and more particularly pertains to jigsaw puzzles having puzzle pieces coordinated, organized and grouped by colors and numbers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board games are among the most popular types of games devised and played by children and adults as an enjoyable social amusement and pleasurable group activity. From perennially popular board games such as Monopoly, Clue, and Risk, to more recent entrants such as Trivial Pursuit, board games are a generally inexpensive means of enjoyment and entertainment. In addition to board games, puzzles have enjoyed a perennial popularity as a means of entertainment and enjoyment both as a family and social activity as well as a solitary pastime. Puzzles range from simple children's puzzles of a few dozen pieces to complex, intricately configured puzzles having thousands individual pieces that must be closely and carefully examined in order to achieve their proper interfitting arrangement. Moreover, puzzles have grown in sophistication to include three-dimensional puzzles that are built up in three-dimensional levels or tiers that form replicas or models of well known structures such as the Empire State building or the Eiffel Tower.

The prior art discloses a number of jigsaw-type puzzles representative of a variety of configurations and designs.

For example, the Smith patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,594) discloses a picture puzzle having a rubber backing sheet divided into adjacent areas, and each area includes a raised number for mating with the corresponding recesses of tile pieces so that the tile pieces can be disposed on the corresponding areas thereby forming a given picture element.

The McFarland patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,136) discloses a double jigsaw puzzle game that includes a game board comprised of mirror image puzzle pieces that form duplicate scenes on each half portion of the game board, with the duplicate scenes differing in color and a scoring means to determine which player or players completes their half section of the game board first.

The Moreau patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,558) discloses a puzzle system wherein the puzzle pieces have both edge and planar surfaces so that puzzle pieces can be interconnected to form a two-dimensional planar puzzle or a three-dimensional figure.

The Bianchi patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,637 and 5,149,098) disclose a pair of jigsaw puzzle game boards wherein the boards and the puzzle pieces have corresponding indicia identifications, and wherein one puzzle piece for each game board includes a special designation that results in the shifting of the game boards to different players during play of the game.

The Chang patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,701) discloses a jigsaw puzzle that includes a board having apertures with buttons extending upwardly therethrough for contact by the individual puzzle pieces whereupon a sound is emitted when all of the puzzle pieces are brought into contact with the buttons.

Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a jigsaw puzzle wherein the puzzle pieces can be easily sorted and arranged by visual indicia such as colors or numbers thereby allowing individuals or groups to each assemble sections of the puzzle thereby shortening the time period for completing the entire puzzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends a jigsaw puzzle organizational or coordination scheme wherein the rear or back surfaces of the individual puzzle pieces include indicia, such as numbers, letters, or a combination of both numbers and letters, that facilitate the assembly of the jigsaw puzzle in an organized manner. In addition, the entire rear or back surface of the jigsaw puzzle can be divided into grids, sections, or bands with each grid, section or band designated by specific indicia or colors. The division or separation of the puzzle pieces by specific indicia or colors facilitates the sorting of the puzzle pieces into separate puzzle piece sections. Individuals or groups can then assemble their assigned section, and then the puzzle sections can be assembled to form the complete jigsaw puzzle.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme whereby the individual puzzle pieces are organized by having indicia such as numbers, letters, or a combination of both numbers and letters placed on the rear surfaces of the individual puzzle pieces.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme whereby the jigsaw puzzle is divided into specific grids, sections, or bands that can be assembled individually and then interconnected to form the complete jigsaw puzzle.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme wherein each specific grid, section, or band is denoted by a unique number, letter, color or design.

Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme wherein the indicia for each jigsaw puzzle grid, section, or band facilitates their sorting for assemblage by grid, section, or band prior to their interconnection for creating the complete jigsaw puzzle.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a jigsaw puzzle coordination and arrangement scheme wherein each section or area of the jigsaw puzzle can be sorted and then assembled by individuals or playing groups thereby shortening the time period for assembling the entire jigsaw puzzle.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the following drawing figures and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention illustrating an organizational scheme comprising numerals placed on the rear surface of each individual puzzle piece;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention illustrating an organizational scheme wherein the jigsaw puzzle is divided into sections with the puzzle pieces of each section being denoted by the same indicia;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention illustrating an organizational scheme wherein the jigsaw puzzle is divided into sections with each section denoted by a specific color;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention illustrating an organizational scheme wherein the jigsaw puzzle is divided into bands or rows with each band denoted by a specific color;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the jigsaw puzzle of the present invention illustrating an organizational scheme wherein the jigsaw puzzle is divided into colored bands and each individual puzzle piece has a unique number associated therewith; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of two players sorting the jigsaw puzzle pieces into groups based on the numbers placed on the rear surfaces of the individual puzzle pieces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 are various embodiments for a jigsaw puzzle that includes organizational or coordinating schemes that facilitate the assembly of the complete jigsaw puzzle by allowing for the assembly of sections or areas of the jigsaw puzzle as an aid and prerequisite for completing the entire jigsaw puzzle. The organizational or coordinating schemes can include indicia such as numbers, letters, colors, or combinations thereof, as well as dividing or separating the jigsaw puzzle into grids or sections by number, color or other design. The organizational or coordinating schemes allow more people to participate in the construction of the particular puzzle and also reduce the time involved in completing the puzzle thereby lessening the monotony and frustration that often accompanies attempts to complete a particularly difficult puzzle.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a jigsaw puzzle 10 that includes a front side 12 and a plurality of puzzle pieces 14 that interconnect to form the completed puzzle. Each puzzle piece 14 also includes a backside or rear surface 16. The rear surface 16 of each puzzle piece 14 includes indicia in the form of numbers 18 that provide for the organization or arrangement of the puzzle 10 in a numerical fashion. Thus the numbers 18 start with the numeral one on the puzzle piece 14 in the upper right hand corner and proceed row to row from the right to left and left to right concluding with the puzzle piece 14 in the bottom left hand corner. The puzzle 10 of FIG. 1 may be assembled by turning all the puzzle pieces 14 over with their rear surfaces 16 facing upward to ease and expedite the construction of the puzzle 10. Also, the puzzle 10 could be assembled in the normal manner by spreading the puzzle pieces 14 front side up and then proceeding to construct the puzzle 10. Should difficulties develop in constructing the puzzle 10, the pieces 14 could then be turned over to determine which numbered puzzle pieces 14 would need to be selected to complete the jigsaw puzzle 10.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is another embodiment for the jigsaw puzzle organizational and coordinating scheme. The jigsaw puzzle 20 of FIG. 2 includes a front side 22, a plurality of puzzle pieces 24 with each puzzle piece 24 having a rear surface or backside 26. The rear surface 26 of the puzzle 20 is divided into nine grids or sections 28 of generally equal size. The puzzle pieces 24 of each section 28 are further denoted by indicia such as numbers 30 so that all the puzzle pieces 24 for each grid 28 have the same number 30 placed on their rear surfaces 26. The puzzle pieces 26 for each section 28 could then be easily separated out for assembly by one or more individuals. After the puzzle pieces 24 for each section 28 are interconnected, all the puzzle piece sections 28 can be joined to form the complete puzzle 20.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is another embodiment for the jigsaw puzzle organizational or coordinating scheme. The jigsaw puzzle 32 of FIG. 3 includes a front side 34, a plurality of puzzle pieces 36, and each puzzle piece 36 includes a rear surface or backside 38. The rear surface 38 is divided into nine sections or grids 40, and, in addition, each section or grid 40 is denoted by a specific color. Thus, the puzzle pieces 32 of FIG. 3 can be separated by colors into the sections 40 for assembly by individuals or groups, and then the sections 40 can be assembled together to form the completed jigsaw puzzle 32.

Illustrated in FIG. 4 is another embodiment for the jigsaw puzzle organizational or coordination scheme. The jigsaw puzzle 42 of FIG. 4 includes a front surface or side 44, a plurality of puzzle pieces 46, and each puzzle piece 46 includes a rear surface or backside 48. A color scheme organizes or groups the puzzle pieces 46 of FIG. 4 wherein the backside 48 is divided into eight distinctive color bands or rows 50 so that each band 50 of puzzle pieces 46 can be first grouped together for assembly; and then the bands 50 can be connected together thereby forming the complete jigsaw puzzle 42. FIG. 5 is a slight variation on FIG. 4 wherein indicia in the form of numbers 52 are placed on the rear surface 48 of each puzzle piece 46 to complement the colored bands or rows 50.

In FIG. 6 two players 54 are sorting out on a table 56 puzzle pieces 24 of the jigsaw puzzle 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 by indicia in the form of numbers 30 on the back side 26 of the puzzle pieces 24. After the puzzle pieces 24 have been sorted by their numbers 30, the players 54 can assemble each numbered section 28. Then the entire puzzle 20 can then be completed by joining the numbered sectioned 28 together

While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications, alterations, and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications, alterations, variations, and equivalents are intended to be covered. 

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A jigsaw puzzle having a numerical organizational scheme, comprising: a plurality of puzzle pieces with each puzzle piece capable of interconnecting with at least one adjacent puzzle piece; each puzzle piece having a front side and an opposite rear side; each puzzle piece having an Arabic numeral placed on the rear side; the puzzle pieces forming rows with each row starting and ending with a unique Arabic numeral; and the placement of Arabic numerals on the rear sides of the puzzle pieces creating a numerical organizational scheme with the puzzle piece in the upper right hand corner having the Arabic numeral 1 on its rear side and the sequential placement of Arabic numerals on the rear sides of the puzzle pieces continuing in an ascending sequence from right to left and left to right for each row until the last puzzle piece located at the lowermost left hand corner with the highest Arabic numeral is reached so that a puzzle solver can sequentially and numerically construct the puzzle commencing with the puzzle piece at the upper right hand corner proceeding row by row from right to left and left to right by sequentially following the Arabic numerals placed on the rear sides of the puzzle pieces. 